Prof. Himanshu Rai, Director of the Indian Institute of Management, Indore, tells us about the benefits of taking our time in today’s fast-paced world. Here are his words: 

We live in an age of high velocity, of total speed. It is defined by the relentless immediacy: instant communication, hyper-short news cycles, the endless scroll of social media, television, instant messaging, logging in, keeping up, being online, an infinite news cycle, the constant update, noise everywhere. We are encouraged to live, work, and study just as quickly, to respond to messages in a half second, to email relentlessly, chat at the drop of a hat. In our accelerated world, the ability to pause and reflect, to simply be, is, now more than ever, key. This should not be mistaken for inefficiency or laziness, but as a unique source of strength. 

As someone who has spent a lifetime immersed in teaching, learning, and observing human growth, I have increasingly come to realise that a meaningful education is built not on speed, but on depth, and depth demands time, slowness.  

Students today all too often find themselves caught in a system that prioritises speed, test-taking, and rote learning rather than true understanding, sustained reflection, and deep thinking.

The pressure to consume vast quantities of information, complete tasks swiftly, and constantly stay ahead of the curve, as well as deal with the distractions and pressures of the superfast modern world, leaves little room for the kind of intricate, unhurried engagement true understanding requires. Real learning does not occur through rapid coverage, but through sustained attention, careful thought, and the inner stillness that allows ideas to take root and flourish in life.  

This is precisely why experiential learning holds such transformative power. In my experience, when students engage in experiential, hands-on education and are given the space to reflect, they significantly outperform their peers and develop into better and more well-rounded students and people. Slowness deepens and dignifies learning and living. 

At IIM Indore, while we prepare our students to thrive in an increasingly fast-paced and volatile world, we also equip them with the inner compass to navigate it with wisdom, discernment, and integrity. Alongside tools of strategic thinking and technological fluency, we offer our students the equally powerful tools of journaling, philosophical thinking, deep reading, nature immersion, and guided introspection, all of which encourage confidence and leadership ability: essential traits in today’s world.  

Understanding yoga, mountaineering, nature, and wellbeing all encourage students to explore such underpinnings to deep reflection as meditation, mindfulness, and the healing power of the outdoors, helping them connect with themselves and the world around them in deeper, more meaningful ways.  

The classroom should be a space where young minds are invited to ask not only “What can I do?” but also “Who am I becoming?” and “What kind of world do I wish to help shape?” These questions resist the urgency of instant answers, but ask instead for patience, introspection, and care. 

My years in the corporate world have taught me that while certain situations may demand rapid responses and decisive action, the most impactful and enduring decisions almost always emerge from a space of calm reflection. Self-reflection is not merely an optional leadership trait but a fundamental necessity, and one that enhances clarity, emotional intelligence, and sound judgment. Leaders who take the time to pause, to listen not only to others but to the quiet voice within, are far better positioned to navigate complexity, resolve conflict, and inspire trust. Reaction is often an instinct, while reflection is a choice, and a choice which distinguishes leadership grounded in wisdom from leadership driven by impulse. 

On a more personal note, my own spiritual journey has continually affirmed the sanctity of slowness as a path to deeper truth. In many of the world’s spiritual traditions, and certainly within the rich heritage of Indian philosophy, stillness and silence are not seen as voids but as spaces filled with potential and presence. Practices including Dhyāna (meditation) and Mauna (sacred silence) are revered not for their external results but for their inner alchemy. They allow us to step away from the noise of the world and tune into the quiet symphony of the self.  

To slow down is not to withdraw from life, it is to, in fact, engage with it more fully and wholly. It is to make space for what truly matters, to replace frenzy with focus, and to choose depth over distraction. In an age that glorifies hustle, slowness may appear counterintuitive, even radical. But it is precisely this counter-current that we must embrace if we are to nurture not just efficient professionals, but thoughtful leaders and compassionate human beings. For in the final analysis, it is not how quickly we move through life that defines us—but how deeply we live it. 

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